Her sister-in-law folded her arms across her chest and stared down at Nithya. Willful denial, then. Welga wasn’t a stupid person. Luis always said she was more stubborn than him, in which case no amount of pleading would change her mind.

Nithya gazed at the others in the room. They’d confined themselves to this tiny flat, rationing food and water and power out of fear. Days of damage would result in months or even years of repair before the world restored itself. Welga’s reasoning made sense, but Nithya didn’t like to admit it. Desperation had changed their own lives, so why not the people on Eko-Yi? Maybe they would stop working with the Machinehood if they realized their actions had created the same kind of pain they suffered.

She put the knife down, moved the pot of kootu aside, and set down a cast-iron kadai for the okra. “How can you do it, Welga? How can you risk everything with such calm determination?”

Welga snorted. “I’m only calm on the outside.” Her tone shifted, becoming low and serious. “After Mama died, I got used to taking care of Luis and Papa. When I joined the service, I got used to the idea that I might have to lay down my life for other people—not just my family, but my country, our allies. Would I rather spend the rest of my life with Connor, shielding, cooking, watching Carma grow up? Of course! I’d rather the Machinehood never happened. But they’re here, and I might have an opportunity to stop them. If you tell me that I can do something to make sure the people I love are safe, that they’ll have the chance to live well because of my actions? That’s worth my life.”

“I admire your courage,” Nithya said with a tinge of envy. She had far too many responsibilities to take a risk like Welga’s. She’d never have a chance to change the world. “You should lie down, take rest while you can. Perhaps it will help.”

“The zips make it hard to stay still.”

Nithya’s breath constricted. “This situation is so horrible! If I had flow, if we had more coin, if we could get full disclosure from Synaxel… if, if, if! In this day and age, you shouldn’t have to suffer like this. We should have a solution for your problem by now, or at least a good understanding. Our parents fought to keep this kind of nonsense from happening. That we’re going through it all again… I can almost believe in what the Machinehood says. Maybe we do need a different way of life, a radical change.”